Senators introduce the Bipartisan Border Solutions Act
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema and Republican Senator John Cornyn (Texas) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Bipartisan Border Solutions Act in response to the crisis at the southern border. The Senators’ legislation improves the federal government’s response to the border crisis, reduces the impact on local border communities, ensures migrants are treated fairly and humanely, and improves management and security along the border.
“I’ve seen firsthand how Arizona, and specifically small communities along the border, pay the price for the federal government’s failure to fix our broken immigration system. As Chair of the Border Management Subcommittee, I am proud to introduce bipartisan, bicameral legislation ensuring the federal government takes meaningful steps to support our border communities, secure the border, and treat all migrants and unaccompanied children fairly and humanely,” said Sinema.
“I have seen firsthand that law enforcement at our southern border has been overwhelmed by this historic surge of migrants, and border communities are straining to provide whatever assistance they can,” said Cornyn. “With the Border Patrol estimating that this situation will only get worse, we must address this in a meaningful way that is fair to migrants seeking asylum, takes the pressure off of our border communities, and allows our Border Patrol agents to focus on their primary mission of securing the border.”
The Senators’ Bipartisan Border Solutions Act improves the federal government’s response to the border crisis by:
Directing the administration to create regional processing centers along the border ensuring migrants are treated fairly and humanely and understand their rights. By consolidating migrant processing, the bill protects Arizona communities from the strain on resources that Arizonans are all too familiar with when migrant crossings spike.
Surging resources to improve the asylum process. Prioritizing the fair, humane, and efficient adjudication of claims will deter migrants who don’t have valid claims from making the dangerous journey to our border in the first place.
Prioritizing the needs of local border communities by requiring DHS to improve its transportation capabilities and notify local border communities and non-governmental organizations prior to releasing migrants to avoid overburdening small communities while improving the coordination and communication between local governments and the federal government.
Representatives Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) and Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House.
To view a one pager of the Senators’ Bipartisan Border Solutions Act click HERE.
To view bill text click HERE.
Sinema is working directly with federal agencies and leaders in Arizona to ensure the administration takes meaningful steps to support Arizona’s border communities and NGOs, secure the border, prevent the spread of COVID-19, and treat all migrants and unaccompanied children fairly and humanely. Sinema has partnered with Arizona Senator Mark Kelly to ensure the Department of Homeland Security has plans and procedures to support our border communities and protect migrants. Sinema and Kelly recently called on the administration to help address the crisis at the southern border by reimbursing the state of Arizona for the deployment of National Guardsmen to Arizona’s border supporting border security efforts. Sinema also worked to include $110 million in funding in the American Rescue Package that is now law for border communities and non-profits stepping up to help solve the migrant crisis. The resources will directly help border communities address the situation at the border, including to stop the spread of COVID-19, protect Arizonans, and ensure migrants are treated fairly and humanely.